Device for setting planking and sheathing



Sept. 6, 1955 w. LABUZA 2,

DEVICE FOR SETTING PLANKING AND SHEATHING Filed NOV. 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INS-.5-

' INVENTOR. Wa U fifiiw Sept. 6, 1955 w. LABUZA 2,717,144

DEVICE FOR SETTING PLANKING AND SHEATHING Filed Nov. 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 f \i' O o 0 II z 7 I1 G. 4- g 17 9 I I If ./.7 1 i I! M1 IN V EN TOR.

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'BY V United States Patent 2,111,144 navrcn Fox-gamma PLANKING AND, a

HEATHING This invention relates generally to construction equipment and more particularly to'a device, in the nature ofa jack or the like, for setting planking or sheathing preparatory to permanently affixing 'them to a'building framework.

It is an object-of this inventiontoprovide -a device capable of effecting the above mentioned function and including a support member, a work engaging member slidably connected to the support, means for projecting and maintaining a force exerted through the work engaging member, and means for attaching the device-to a separate support element such as a stud or window frame. 1

A further object of this invention is the provision of a tool of the type that is economical to manufacture and easy to assemble. 1

Devices of the general type outlined above have been the lower end of rod and a short pin 14' introduced commer cially butmot without many disadvantages. It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide an over-center toggle linkage for supplying the force necessary to lock the planking orsheathing in place prior to the application of conventional fastening units thereto.

Other advantages and objects of the invention willbe apparent upon a consideration of the ensuing specification and drawings in which; i

Fig. 1 is a view taken along line1--l on Fig. 2 showing the supporting arm with stud clamps affixed thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the tool illustrating my invention;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved jack affixed to a stud prior to setting a board and;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4 showing my jack after the board has been forced into abutting relation with a previously set board. I

Briefly, the device includes a cylindrical support having means at one end for attaching the device to a building frame stud or the like, a rod slidably mounted in the cylinder, a board engaging shoe, spring members disposed between the shoe and rod and an over-center toggle linkage for forcibly pressing the shoe against a work surface such as a board.

During the construction of a modern living unit such as a house or an apartment, a contractor or carpenter is likely to encounter green lumber. This type of lumber has not had the benefit of a proper curing period and is apt to be warped. Attaching this type of lumber to building frame studs, as, for example, during the erection of a wall, often presents a difficult problem. However, this difficulty is overcome to a great extent by the use of a jack device, embodying my invention, as hereinafter set forth.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a cylindrical member 11 having a bifurcated end portion as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Adapted to be pivotally attached to the bifurcated end of member 11 2,717,144 Fatented Sept. 6, 1955 by pin 4, is an arm3 having clamp elements 1 and'Z for connecting the arm to a building frame stud or-the like. and extends normal thereto. The second clamp 1, 'is movably mounted on the arm so that studs of varying widths may be accommodated between the clamp elements. Second clamp is connected to arm 3 by threaded pivot pin 30, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This arrangement permits limited pivotal movement of the clamp l on the arm 3. In order to insure the presence of the movable clamp 1 on the arm 3 at all times, leaf spring 5 is affixed to the clamp 1 and bears against the arm in sucha manner that the resistance of this spring must be overcome before movement of clamp 1 may be effected. A connecting rod 10 is slidably mounted in the support member and has adjacent its lowermost extremity a spring retainer 13 connected thereto. This latter member has a flat undersurface and two openings provided in the opposite extremities. A shoe 16 is attached to the retainer by bolts 14 affixed to'the shoe and projecting through the openings'in the retainer. Spiral springs 15 are positioned-between the shoe and retainer so as to abut against the undersurface of the latter element and rest on the top of the former member. A spring similar to 15 is also interposed between in alignment therewith attached to the top surface of the shoe as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In order to conform to the conventional board or planking having'a tongue and groove connection, shoe16' is generally L shaped and has in the face of the shorter leg a notch or recess 16' extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to accommodate the board or plank as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Under the arrangement disclosed, the springs 15 normally urge the rod 10 upwardly into the cylindrical socket of support 11. To overcome this spring action and cause the member 10 and 11 to be forced in opposite directions, a linkageutilizing an over-center toggle action is contemplated.- This linkage comprises a generally U-shaped housing 11' that has ears or lugs, pivotally connected to the'support 11 by a pin 7, and a handle accommodating socket. Pivotally connected to rod 10 by a pin 9 are a pair of parallel toggle arms 18. These arms are also pivotally connected to the housing by a pin 8. Pivot points as indicated at 7 and 9 are located in a straight linewith pivot point as indicated at 8 normally disposed to one side thereof through the normal action of springs 15. As the pivot 8 is moved in response to force exerted on handle 12, positioned in the housing in the manner described above, members 10 and 11 are moved downwardly and upwardly respectively. Once the arm 3 has been connected to a stud and shoe 16 brought into engagement with a work surface such as shown in Fig. 4, the upward movement of member 11 tends to lock the clamps 1 and 2 about the stud while the downward force causes a pressure contact between shoe 16 and the work. After pivot 8 passes the line defined by pivots 7 and 9, continued application of force on handle 12 is unnecessary because the engagement of the housing and member 11 (see Fig. 5) restrains movement of pivot 8 in one direction and the action of the stressed springs prohibits the reverse movement of the pivot. Hence, a continuing force is being exerted upon the work, and the carpenter or operator has both hands free to nail the board to the stud.

Among the many advantages of the device described is the ease with which it may be mounted for use. This is true because of the pivotal connection between the support 11 and the arm 3, which allows the latter member to assume various angular positions with respect to the support.

Often a carpenter is working under a large picture win- The first clamp 2 is integrally afiixed to arm 3' dow frame where a stud towhich arm 3 may be attached is inaccessible. The device may still be utilized by positioning brace 17 loosely against the underside of the frame andplacing the shoe on the work. When the device, which, incidentally, may be used to assemble floor boards or ceiling boards, is used in erecting a wall one end of a board is made fast-to a building frame stud in a conventional manner. The tool is attached by the arm 3 to a stud and shoe 16 is brought into engagement with the board. The handle is then actuated in the manner described above. The selection of the stud to which the tool is to be attached is dependent upon the length of the board and the amount of displacement due to warp- Other arrangements and variations may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention as outlined in the following claims.

I claim:

, t. A tool of the class described comprising a support member including a bifurcated end portion and an elongated cylindrical socket at the other end, an arm pivotally connected to the bifurcated end portion of said support member, a first stud clamp fixed to said arm and extending normal thereto, a second stud clamp, slidably and pivotaliy mounted on said arm, a leaf spring normally urging said second stud clamp for limited pivotal movement on said arm, a connecting rod slidably mounted in said socket, a spring retainer having apertured portions affixed to said rod adjacent one end thereof, a work engaging shoe having a generally L-shaped surface including an elongated recess in the shorter leg, three parallel pins projecting upwardly from said shoe, the middle pin adapted to be aligned with the end of the connecting rod extending beyond the retainer and the two end pins adapted to be received in the apertures in said retainer, spiral springs surrounding said pins and said connecting rod extremity and positioned against the underside of the retainer and the shoe, stop elements attached to the two pin ends projected beyond the apertures in said retainer, a handle holder U-shaped in cross section having a bifurcated end portion pivotally connected to said support member, a handle accommodating socket in said holder, two parallel toggle arms pivotally attached to the said 4 connecting rod at one of their extremities and pivotally connected to the handle holder at their opposite extremities and a handle operable in said holder whereby the pivotal connection between said holder and said toggle arms may be moved beyond a line determined by the connection between the holder and support and the connections between the toggle arms and connecting rod against the action of the spiral springs so that a continuing predetermined force may be applied through the shoe to a work surface.

2. A board jack comprising a supporting member having a socket extending inwardly from one end thereof; means for anchoring the supporting'member at a position displaced transversely from the location of the supporting member, said means including an arm pivotally mounted to the supporting member, a first clamping element fixedly secured to the arm and a second clamping element slidably mounted on the arm, said second element having limited pivotal movement on the arm; a connecting rod slidably mountedin the socket in the supporting member; a board engaging member connected to the rod; spring means interposed between the rod and the board engaging member permitting relative movement therebetween; and means connecting the supporting member and: the connecting rod whereby movement of the rod within the supporting member in a certain direction will transmit a pressure on the board-engaging member through the spring means and cause the anchoring means to be secured at the displaced position. I V i 3. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein the means connecting thesupporting member and the connecting rod cooperate with the spring means to prevent unintentional release of the pressure after application thereof. I

References Cited in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES I ATENTS 291,824 Wilbur Jan. 8, 1884 577,975 Bnnnell Mar. 2, 1897 608,847 Dukes Aug. 9, 1898 1,851,489 Brook Mar. 29, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 134,138 Austria July 10, 1933 

